I was a huge John Denver fan as were so many people all over the world! JD recorded so many great songs during his career.

I am curious what songs are some of your favourites? Of course there are all the many, many well known songs that everyone knows - but also many songs that may not have been big hits or as well known to the masses. So take a few minutes to think about all the great songs you remember - and what song/songs are your favourites.

I do love all the well known hits John Denver had of course but - at the top of my list are two songs that I especially love. They are:

1. "Rhyme and Reasons" This song above all others (and my very, very favourite) brings me to tears. It is so sad - but so,so beautiful!

2. "This Old Guitar"

These two songs are my all time favourites.

I miss John Denver so much..he died way before his time in in Monterey Bay in Northern, California on October 12, 1997.

I remember exactly when I heard the news. I was working at a large California Record Company and went on my 15 minute afternoon break in the break room. There was a TV on in that room - no one else in there at the time I went in (for my break.) The afternoon TV news was on and then I heard what is called here "Breaking News." "Singer/songwriter, John Denver was killed today in Monterey, California in an experimental plane crash into the Pacific Ocean. Details still coming in." I was devasted and could hardly make it out of that room. I was so sad, so upset and just couldn't believe it.

I guess flying was in his blood , his father ,Major Deutschendorf having been a record-breaking test-pilot etc. A great loss to the world of music . My favourites will always be "Morning Bells Will Chime" and "Grandma's Feather Bed " , and "Take Me When I'm Gone To Forest Lawn ".Oh , and "Saturday Night In Toledo ,Ohio" of course !!

This probably isn't my favorite of his songs, but I have always enjoyed his version of "Mother Nature's Son" more than the Beatles original version. I do enjoy the Beatles version - I just enjoy John Denver's more.

The Eagle and the Hawk is one of my favorites, and John's performance showed his amazing vocal range. Rocky Mountain High will always mean a lot to me since I moved to Colorado the summer it was popular. And Poems, Prayers, and Promises will always remind me of those backpacking trips in the early days.

I've long admired his openness with his audience with regards to his marriage. In the good days he'd sing "Annie's Song" and "Annie's Other Song," then the troubles were reflected in "Goodbye Again," then the serious problems showed up in "I'm Sorry" and the attempted reconciliation in "Shanghai Breezes." Towards the end we heard the hurt in "Seasons of the Heart" and finally loss in "The Game Is Over." I think I love the last one best, not only for the artistry in the lyrics but for the courage it took to let the world see his pain.

I was a fan of John Denver's in his days with The Mitchell Trio. I thought he did a fine job on Bells of Rhymney, and Get Together, and Violets of Dawn, and several other songs (he didn't write but) sang with the Trio.

I remember at the time John Denver was growing popular, there seemed to be a (sneering?) opinion in my circle of folkmusic and/or rockmusic friends that he wasn't hip enough, or pure enough, or alternative enough to be respected. HOW WRONG THEY WERE. John's music has proved to be timeless, and no one could wrap his lilting voice around a melody like he did. Some of my favorites:

By the time John Denver died in a plane crash in 1997, he had written and sung a remarkable assortment of cherished music: "Rocky Mountain High," "Take Me Home, Country Roads," "Sunshine on My Shoulders," "Leaving on a Jet Plane" and many more. He was often mocked by edgier musicians for being a kind of musically soft, spongy Wonderbread of a singer-songwriter. But his songs have endured ? and influenced more than one generation.

Now, a group of musicians has come together to produce The Music Is You: A Tribute to John Denver. One of the album's contributors, Dave Matthews, plays a slowed-down interpretation of Denver's "Take Me to Tomorrow."

"[Denver] was eager to get a different sound, but I thought maybe he didn't serve the lyrics to that song as well as he could have," Matthews says. "So I tried a different angle. I don't know if I've managed to serve them any better, but I certainly took a different route than he did."

Other contributors to The Music Is You include Josh Ritter, Lucinda Williams, Old Crow Medicine Show, My Morning Jacket, Emmylou Harris and Brandi Carlile. Here, Matthews speaks with NPR's Scott Simon about learning from Denver's songwriting.

Audio of the interview, as well as tracks from the new album at the link.

Here is another item from NPR about the album from a few weeks ago. (They had the full album up for preview for a limited time. Unfortunately, I missed it.)

Probably Annie's Song. And the helium didn't hurt, in 'best friend's wedding'... A pilot neighbor said that John had recently purchased the Rutan EZ Long. The builder had located the fuel tank selector switch in a different position. John was aware of this. He lost control of the plane while trying to reach the valve, located behind his body. It was the first time he had to switch tanks. Pretty sad.

...oh and I'm not sure who wrote it or what the actual title is but he sang a song with The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on Circle Be Unbroken II that had as the last line of the verse, "So it goes with everything but love". Always liked that one.

Stewie, I have to agree. I hadn't paid attention to the Mitchell Trio recording of "Tambourine Man," but it really is good.

I went to a John Denver concert in Fresno in about 1977. He performed without a break for 2-1/2 hours or more, and he put his heart into every moment. I heard lots of criticism of John Denver after that, but that one concert made me an eternal fan. He gave us everything he had. That's what stuck with me about that concert - his generosity in giving us everything he could possibly give us.

Can't say the same for the Bob Dylan concert I wish I hadn't attended.

I'm not saying this is my favorite, but it seems not to have been posted at Mudcat before, and I think we ought to have it somewhere, and I don't see any other good thread to add it to:

(By the way, I checked these lyrics against a recording on Spotify.)

THANK GOD I'M A COUNTRY BOY As sung by John Denver on "Back Home Again"

[Begins a cappella, with foot-tapping(?) and clapping:]

Well, life's on a farm is kinda laid back. Ain't much an old country boy like me can't hack. It's early to rise, early in the sack. Thank God I'm a country boy!

Well, a simple kind of life never did me no harm, Raisin' me a family and workin' on a farm. My days are all filled with an easy country charm. Thank God I'm a country boy!

CHORUS: Well, I got me a fine wife, I got me old fiddle. When the sun's comin' up I got cakes on the griddle, And life ain't nothin' but a funny, funny riddle. Thank God I'm a country boy!

[Instrumental accompaniment begins:]

When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low, I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow. The kids are asleep so I keep it kinda low. Thank God I'm a country boy!

I'd play "Sally Goodin'' all day if I could, But the Lord and my wife wouldn't take it very good, So I fiddle when I can and I work when I should. Thank God I'm a country boy!

CHORUS

Well, I wouldn't trade my life for diamonds or jewels. I never was one of them money-hungry fools. I'd rather have my fiddle and my farmin' tools. Thank God I'm a country boy!

Yeah, city folk drivin' in a black limousine, A lotta sad people thinkin' that's mighty keen. Well, son let me tell you now exactly what I mean: Thank God I'm a country boy!

CHORUS

Well, my fiddle was my daddy's till the day he died, And he took me by the hand, held me close to his side. He said, "Live a good life and play my fiddle with pride. Thank God you're a country boy!"

Well, my daddy taught me young how to hunt and how to whittle. He taught me how to work and play a tune on the fiddle. He taught me how to love and how to give just a little, And thank God I'm a country boy!

I like "Annie's Song" He wrote it for his wife. Alas after a domestic quarrel he took a chainsaw and cut their double bed in half. I now hear the song as " You fill up my senses ..... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

It's not often I disagree with Jim Dixon, but I question one verse he posted for "Thank God I'm a Country Boy"

Yeah, city folk drivin' in a black limousine,A lotta sad people thinkin' that's mighty keen. Well, son let me tell you now exactly what I mean: Thank God I'm a country boy!

I think John Denver is singing "that's somebody keen!"

I found only one Internet transcription that agrees with me, and 20,000 that agree with Jim. But "that's somebody keen" is what I hear.

Opinions?

Anybody have a John Denver songbook to settle the disagreement? I thought I had one, but I can't find it. My Hal Leonard fakebook says "that's a-mighty keen," but I have known fakebooks to be wrong. I suspect, however that I'm the one who's wrong this time...

Not necessarily ,Joe ; if you take the "s" of "that's" and stress it to become a "sah" -sound, then pronounce the "t" of "mighty" as a "d" , you might well end up hearing "thatsahmaddy",which aint too far off "that's somebody " ,although it would make less sense grammatically !!

I'm afraid I was one of those snobs who liked a lot of John Denver's music, until he had a top forty hit with Country Roads. After that I became one of the detractors. On re-examining that sentiment, I realize I was dead wrong to think those things. Great performer and now I think his music still stands out. I had a high school engish teacher who became a friend after I graduated tell me this story about John Denver. She was going to a concert to hear Laura Nero in the late 60's, early '70's. John Denver was the opening act and performed with such enthusiasm, that he blew the audience away. Laura Nero came out and did her introspective, stoned act and people left at the end of the night talking about John Denver.

I was not there, Phil, so I can't say, but Laura Nyro was a powerful, energetic performer, and a hard driving R&B pianist to boot, so I doubt that John Denver (powerful and energetic as well) would have outshone her. She was not introspective and stoned out. Would have been a good concert to see, though...

I admit that I thought less of John Denver after I heard of his marital problems and drinking, this by the man who wrote the beautiful "Annie's Song" for his wife. But in my old age, I've realized that such stories often get exaggerated. And even if we write wonderful songs, we're all frail humans.

So, I've decided to just like his music, and let the extramusical conduct be. I saw him in performance only once, a 3-1/2 hour concert in an arena in Fresno in the late 1970s. He sang without a break, and he held the audience spellbound. He was indeed a wonderful performer.